“Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says he is very frustrated at the lack of progress in the establishment of a Technological University in Waterford. The application for the TU South East from WIT and IT Carlow has still not been submitted after a memorandum of understanding between both IT’s was rejected by the unions in Carlow …” (more)

“Minister for Education Joe McHugh has pledged not to raise college fees past €3,000 for the next five years if his party is returned to government in the next general election. In a move that echoes the recent promise by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar not to increase Ireland’s fees …” (more)

“Developers are increasingly pursuing student accommodation or co-living developments at the expense of family homes, experts have warned. Schemes that targeted first-time buyers are slowing amid tight restrictions on mortgage lending but are increasing rapidly when it comes to apartment builds …” (more)

“The Taoiseach says he’s confident the Technological University for the South East can be achieved within the next year. The application from WIT and IT Carlow still has not been submitted. It hit another delay last month when a memorandum of understanding agreed between management at both IT’s and the Teachers Union of Ireland was rejected by union members in Carlow …” (more)

“Minister for Education Joe McHugh has said reducing student contribution charges by a third would cost the government over €76 million, while taking €500 off the charge would set the Department of Education back €38 million …” (more)

“The abolition of the student contribution fee would cost the government €229 million, according to Minister for Education Joe McHugh. McHugh, answering questions in the Dáil this week, said the cost of abolishing Ireland’s fees – which currently stand as the second highest in the EU – would hit the budget of the government’s grant scheme …” (more)

“This week, Provost Patrick Prendergast, Dean of Trinity Business School Andrew Burke and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar cut the ribbon on Trinity Business School’s new building on the east end of campus. Now located within walking distance of the so-called Silicon Docks, it is an exciting time for the school, which is also now just one accreditation away from being listed in the top ranks of world business schools …” (more)

“Trinity College Dublin unveiled its new €80 million business school on Thursday, formally opened by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. The new flagship building, which opens on to Pearse Street, was funded by a large European Investment Bank loan to be repaid over 30 years, and €20m in philanthropic donations …” (more)

“Trinity College Dublin’s new €80m Business School was opened today by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. The new building will house the scaled up Trinity Business School, a global leader in innovative business education programmes …” (more)

“Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was greeted by a silent protest at the University of Limerick this Thursday lunchtime. Students were demonstrating against the continued use of Direct Provision in Ireland, with UL student life welfare officer Lorcan O’Donnell describing it as ‘inhumane’ …” (more, video)

“TU Dublin was established in January and the Munster consortium submitted their application in February. However, the South East grouping has yet to follow suit. Speaking in Waterford, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar called on them to act …” (more)

“Student groups have welcomed comments from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar which appear to rule out a student loan scheme or increase in fees for higher education. Until now, Mr Varadkar has voiced his opposition to ‘US or UK-style’ student loans schemes but has not ruled out other loan schemes which involve smaller levels of debt …” (more)

“Further increases to student fees or the introduction of a student loan scheme have been ruled out, the Irish Examiner can reveal. In a ‘highly significant’ development, the Government has rejected two of three recommendations contained in a 2016 report into how a gaping hole in third-level funding is to be filled …” (more)

“Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has suggested it could be ‘make sense’ to extend the MetroLink line to UCD and on to Sandyford in future years. His remarks came as he was challenged in the Dáil on the current plan for the Metro Line to stop at Charlemont in the south city and the abandonment of the proposal to continue it along the existing Luas Green Line to Sandyford …” (more)

“Officials from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) have been urging members of the Oireachtas to amend legislation, allowing the institute to describe itself as a university in Ireland and overseas. Under current legislation, RCSI may describe itself as a University of Medicine and Health Sciences overseas but may not do so in Ireland …” (more)

“Controversial proposals for a student loan scheme to fund third-level education are being referred by the Government to the European Commission for detailed economic analysis. The move is set to push back any decision on a future funding model for higher education by at least a year …” (more)

“Dissatisfaction with a new course structure for pharmacy students in Ireland is escalating around the country, with students launching a campaign against unpaid work placements. An online petition formed this weekend has received over 4,000 signatures at the time of publication …” (more)